Product Overview
The Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 is a high-power, industrial-grade AC drive belonging to Rockwell Automation’s renowned PowerFlex 700 series—a platform that has long served as the benchmark for medium-voltage-class motor control in demanding process and heavy-industrial applications. Rated at 400 V AC, three-phase, 170 amps continuous output, the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 delivers 90 kW under normal-duty (ND) conditions and 75 kW under heavy-duty (HD) operation, making it the definitive “workhorse” drive for large induction motors driving crushers, mills, pumps, compressors, and primary fans. As of November 30, 2023, the PowerFlex 700 20B platform has been officially discontinued by Rockwell Automation, positioning the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 as a critical MRO spare for the thousands of installed units still operating in plants worldwide.
Engineered in a Frame 6 enclosure measuring 403.9 mm × 850 mm × 275.5 mm and weighing 71.44 kg, the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 incorporates a built-in braking IGBT (without an integral brake resistor), a second-environment EMC filter compliant with the CE EMC Directive (89/336/EEC), a common-mode choke, and a conformal-coated PCB for resistance to humidity and corrosive atmospheres. Its control architecture is built around advanced sensorless vector control (with full calibration capability) and standard V/Hz control, supported by 24 V DC I/O and a blank-plate HIM cover (no operator interface pre-installed). The Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 does not ship with an internal communication module, but the platform natively supports EtherNet/IP, Modbus, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, CAN, LON, and TCP/IP protocols, allowing seamless integration into any modern DCS or PLC network via optional DPI communication cards.
With a remarkable 97.5% efficiency at rated load, a displacement power factor of 0.98 across the entire speed range, and a carrier frequency selectable at 2/4/8/10 kHz, the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 combines energy efficiency with acoustic flexibility. Its IP20 / NEMA Type 1 enclosure, 15G shock resistance, and 0.152 mm vibration tolerance underscore the ruggedization required for continuous operation in the harshest industrial environments. For plant engineers tasked with maintaining legacy PowerFlex 700 installations, the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 represents the most cost-effective pathway to sustained reliability without a disruptive drive-platform migration.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Model | 20BC170A0AYNANC0 |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell Automation (Allen-Bradley) |
| Product Type | AC Drive / Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) |
| Drive Series | PowerFlex 700 (20B platform) |
| Input Voltage | 400 V AC, 3-phase, 50/60 Hz (range 380–480 V) |
| Input Current | 170 A (rated) |
| Output Power (Normal Duty) | 90 kW (125 HP) |
| Output Power (Heavy Duty) | 75 kW |
| Output Current (Continuous) | 170 A @ 400 V AC, 3-phase, ND |
| Output Current (1-minute) | 210 A @ 400 V AC, 3-phase, HD |
| Output Current (3-second) | 280 A @ 400 V AC, 3-phase, HD |
| Control Methods | Sensorless Vector Control, Standard V/Hz, Vector Control |
| PWM Frequency | 2, 4, 8, 10 kHz (selectable; 4 kHz nominal) |
| Maximum Output Frequency | 420 Hz |
| Efficiency | 97.5% at rated current and nominal line voltage |
| Displacement Power Factor | 0.98 (across entire speed range) |
| Brake IGBT | Installed |
| Internal Brake Resistor | Not included |
| EMC Filter | Second-environment filter per CE EMC Directive 89/336/EEC |
| Common-Mode Choke | Included |
| Conformal Coating | Yes (PCB coated) |
| HIM (Operator Interface) | None (blank plate cover installed) |
| Communication Module | None pre-installed (optional DPI cards supported) |
| Supported Protocols | EtherNet/IP, Modbus, PROFIBUS, DeviceNet, CAN, LON, TCP/IP |
| Control I/O | 24 V DC I/O; 6 digital inputs, 3 digital outputs |
| Analog I/O | 2 analog inputs, 2 analog outputs |
| Feedback | None (sensorless vector; encoder option via separate module) |
| Enclosure Rating | IP20 / NEMA Type 1 |
| Frame Size | Frame 6 |
| Dimensions (W × H × D) | 403.9 × 850 × 275.5 mm |
| Weight | 71.44 kg |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to +50 °C @ 400 V AC (50 °C max at 540 V DC bus) |
| Storage Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Relative Humidity | 5 %–95 %, non-condensing |
| Altitude | ≤ 1000 m (3300 ft) without derating |
| Overload Capability | 150% rated current for 60 s (ND); 200% for 3 s (starting) |
| Short-Circuit Rating | 200,000 A symmetrical |
| Input Undervoltage Trip | 233 V AC @ 380/400 V input |
| Input Overvoltage Trip | 570 V AC @ 380/400 V input |
| DC Bus Voltage (nominal) | 540 V DC @ 380/400 V |
| DC Bus Undervoltage Fault | 305 V DC |
| DC Bus Overvoltage Trip | 810 V DC |
| Total Power Loss | 1845 W @ 400 V @ 90 kW ND (IP20/NEMA Type 1) |
| Certifications | cUL, C-Tick, KCC, ABS, ATEX, CE |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Lifecycle Status | Discontinued (Nov 30, 2023) – supplied as MRO spare |
| Standard Warranty | 1 year (per Rockwell original) |
Main Features and Advantages
High-Power Vector Control for Heavy-Duty Loads
The defining capability of the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 is its ability to deliver 170 A of continuous output current, translating to 90 kW of normal-duty and 75 kW of heavy-duty motor control. With sensorless vector control providing a torque bandwidth of 600 rad/s and a speed regulation accuracy of ±0.005%, the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 achieves exceptional starting torque and dynamic response—even without encoder feedback. This makes the drive ideally suited for applications where high breakaway torque is required: crusher starts, mill rotation, conveyor ramp-ups, and pump primaries all benefit from the drive’s 150%-for-60-seconds overload capacity.
Exceptional Energy Efficiency
At 97.5% efficiency under rated operating conditions, the Allen-Bradley 20BC170A0AYNANC0 minimizes energy waste and reduces the thermal load on both the drive and the surrounding cabinet. Its displacement power factor of 0.98 across the entire speed range means that utility-side reactive power penalties are virtually eliminated, delivering tangible electricity-cost savings over the lifetime of the installation. The drive’s sinusoidal-encoded PWM with a programmable carrier frequency (2/4/8/10 kHz) allows plant engineers to balance switching losses against acoustic noise—a crucial consideration for installations near operator workstations.